Learn and work with Chance Theater professionals
Chance youth programs
- 04/14/09 Day @ Play Announcement - OCRegister.com
- 02/26/09 Theater and Education Program profile - Anaheim Magazine
- 02/13/09 Our new Education Director, Tanae Beyer - Anaheim Hills News
THEATER ARTICLE
She introduces a new generation to theater
Tanae Beyer is the Chance Theater's new education director
by Rosalba Ruiz, Anaheim Hills News
Soon, students from across the county will have the chance to learn about theatre from a professional. Tanae Beyer's been involved in dozens of productions in her lifetime, and she wants to share her knowledge and experience with younger generations.
As the Chance Theater's new education director, she will create and institute educational programs that make the theatre arts accessible to dozens of students and, the company hopes, will instill and promote the love for theatre in those youngsters.
In a recent interview, Beyer talked about her new role at The Chance (she's been a company member for three years), her love for anything theater (she sometimes works 16-hour days at the Chance) and the importance of passing it on.
Q. Why did you decide to take on this role?
A. I love theatre, of course. For me, a big part of theatre is making sure that it carries on with the next generation. It's very important for me to get young people excited about theatre.
Q. How did you get started in theatre?
A. Elementary school actually was the first time I did anything theatre-related. I acted in a play and I was so enthralled with everything. I was probably like 7, and it just kind of opened up this whole new world for me. Then I got into high school and got involved again by just taking a theatre class; I got involved in community theatre, mostly acting. I taught a little bit at Riverside Children's Theatre. Then in college I did a lot of tech work.
Q. Do you like tech work better than acting?
A. For me, I like organizing and being in charge of things. Plus, the level of talent we have at The Chance, I don't think I could be a match for that.
Q. You're pursuing a graduate degree in theater education. What do you hope to gain from that?
A. I think as far as my career, I'm already there. I like that I'm able to run an educational program. My favorite thing is that I get to develop a program, and if something doesn't work, I get to try something else. My goal for this program is to get as many kids involved as possible.
Q. What communities will you target?
A. We hope to reach kids from all over the place, but somewhat focused on our community of Orange County.
Some programs that Beyer is already working on include: six Girl Scout workshops through which Brownies, Juniors and Cadets can earn theatre badges; and Weekend at Play, for fourth to eighth graders, in which students work together over the weekend to write, rehearse and produce a 10-minute play.
From: Anaheim Hills News
[top]
THEATER ARTICLE
Let's Get Cultural
Chance Theater
Anaheim Magazine
 |
The Chance Theater, located in East Anaheim, is the only non-profit theater in Anaheim and recently celebrated its tenth year of bringing Off-Broadway theatre to the region. One of the theater’s main goals is to provide a local, intimate theater that inspires artistic expression in Anaheim and throughout Orange County. The theater hosts a variety of performances throughout the year, from musicals to dramas and comedies. They are currently presenting a West Coast Premier drama through March, followed by the musical from Tony Award® winning writer Mark Hollmann and Jack Helbig “The Girl, The Grouch, and The Goat.”
The Chance Theater also offers a summer intensive program for Orange County students called “Speak Up-And Take a Chance.” Through this program, students have the opportunity to study under members of the Theater, and learn skills from acting to writing and set design. Their performances are set to take place in July and August at the Chance Theater.
In an effort to expand their goal of bringing theater education to the local community, the Chance Theater has created new programs targeted for Girl Scout troops and elementary school students. The Girl Scout program is designed to help members earn their theater badge through participation in a single-day workshop. For students, grades 4-8, the Theatre has designed a “Weekend @ Play” program where they can write and perform in their very own show in the course of one weekend.
Additionally, high school juniors and seniors who are interested in playwriting can take a class through Chance Theater from September to March. This program, “Write Stuff!,” will allow each student to take an in-depth look into being a playwrighter, and write a ten-minute play that will be critiqued by members of the theater. One script from each class will be chosen to be performed by the theater actors at the Write Stuff! Festival at the end of the program.
In an effort to provide a more affordable theater experience for young-adult patrons, Chance Theater has introduced the NextGen campaign that offers students, 25 and under, discounted prices on season and individual performance tickets. Additional information on ticket packages and other Chance Theatre programs can be found at www.chancetheater.com.
From: Anaheim Magazine (page 13)
[top]
THEATER ARTICLE
Chance Theater announces Day @ Play — you know, for kids
by Paul Hodgins, OCRegister.com
April 14, 2009
 |
Anaheim Hills’ Chance Theater continues to mature into a major Orange County stage. The company’s latest ambitious project is a new education program titled Day @ Play.
Designed for students in the fourth through eighth grades, the daylong intensive pairs kids with theater professionals to create new adaptations of familiar fairy tales. Participants will use their creative powers to fashion their own uniqwue version of the story.
The first Day @ Play production will be “Cinderella” on April 18. The cost is $30 per student. Scholarships are available.
More information follows:
Day @ Play uses the voices and choices of the students to create their own spin on a beloved children’s tale. Great for beginners, it uses specially designed exercises, creative dramatics and reader’s theater to get everybody involved in playing and using their imaginations. Day @ Play is a shortened version of the Chance’s new program, Weekend @ Play in which a children’s novel is turned into a play over the course of a weekend.
The Chance has planned three different Day @ Play sessions that will occur throughout 2009, each focusing on a different classic fairy tale. On April 18th, the children will adapt Cinderella. On May 9th the story will be Little Red Riding Hood, and July 18th will be Jack and the Beanstalk. Future plans for the program include making it a weekly after school class. This program is available for 4th – 8th grade students for $30 per student. Scholarships are available for those who can demonstrate a need. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Education Director, Tanae Beyer, is excited about Day @ Play, “This workshop is a fun way of dramatizing those stories we all read as children and played out at some point. It is also a fun, hands-on way of getting kids to analyze a story. Of course, if we told them that, they might not like it so much, but really it is. We look at characters and actions, as well as the beginning, middle and end. We identify the conflict, and then we get on our feet and play it several different ways. We end up with a short performance of the story. Children are learning while playing and being creative.”
Enrollment Information
Day @ Play
April 18th (Cinderella) from 9am-12pm
May 9th (Little Red Riding Hood) from 9am-12pm
July 18th (Jack and the Beanstalk) from 9am-12pm
$30 per student
Family discounts and need-based scholarships available.
From: OCRegister.com
[top]
